How many of you concentrate on sounds more than read out?

[njnydigger]

Monty, I couldn't have said it better myself

Read some of my posts recently. I have been trying to get across the same point as you, though some folks don't seem to get it

All of this stuff about hunting by tone only is feasible, but, why not just by a tone only machine then instead of spending an arm and a leg on all of the "sizzle" the detector manufacturer's are pushing?!?!

I'll tell you why...All of the "doo-dads" you mentioned help sell more units. And the claims are always - MORE DEPTH, BETTER TRASH REJECTION, ETC. - it's all hooey. Yet, people continually buy into it. They then have to justify their purchase with "I have the better machine" or "I have the best detector out there".

The USER is the one with the brain. THEY are the pilot of the machine. I keep saying it over and over again...

User experience is the most important

Researching and finding quality sites is second

Followed by a decent (needn't be expensive) detector

Follow those three steps, and I can assure anyone they will find more than 99% of the other detectorists.

I've said my piece. Now, snatch the pebble from my hand young grasshopper

 

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[Iron Patch]

I have heard a lot about the sound only theory and have seen posts by several detectorists that seem to have luck with it. But my question is, why spend all that money on a detector with all the bells and whistles and then not use them? I would think that a less expensive detector without the screen and all the numbers would serve just as well for those who subscribe to that theory. I use a little of both I suppose , but have not really given it that much thought. Maybe I should? Monty

I'll answer that with another question...


Why don't we all use $40 Chinese made detectors? As long as they beep on metal, and have an ID screen, it's the same, right?


Anyone feel free to answer that.

 

[Digger]

Truth is people pay for those "do dads bells & whistles" because they use them. I have a nice simple Tesoro Compadre so when/IF I ever get in the mode to just spend hours and hours digging crap in hopes of find something missed. Personally I no longer have the time to waste, I did that when I was younger and thought I knew better, so I want a detector that will give me the best odds at finding the goodies and ignore the trash to the best of its ability. Which by the way depends a lot on what you are willing to pay for a detector. Good discrimination cost a lot of money.

 

[Born2Dtect]

First sound tells me to look at the VDI meter numbers. Then a few more swings. Use all the information to decide to dig. With my Explorer II I could guess 10 out of 10 some times. But the new E-Trac is a different story. Have only been out about 6 hours, not real sure about it yet. Need more time in the field, it will come.

Ed D.

 

[Monty]

Oh, oh, oh, let me answer the chinese detector machine question. My first one was a Chinese detector with all the fake bells and whistles. I had it 3 months and it lied to me about everything. Chinese machines are like Chinese politics. But I have to confess I do have one machine with all the bells and whistles , and one with some of the bells and whistles and one with just the bells. On short notice I still rely on the one with the bells only. Monty

 

[relic lover]

Sound primarily, but sometimes deep rusted iron can give off that great high pitched silvery tone. If the area has a lot of deep iron, I will look down at the screen and watch the bullseye on the smart find display. If it stays top right, I dig, if it falls to bottom right.....I still dig the first couple just to be sure that it is in fact deep iron (always has been so far).

Exactly

 

[Iron Patch]

Oh, oh, oh, let me answer the chinese detector machine question. My first one was a Chinese detector with all the fake bells and whistles. I had it 3 months and it lied to me about everything. Chinese machines are like Chinese politics. But I have to confess I do have one machine with all the bells and whistles , and one with some of the bells and whistles and one with just the bells. On short notice I still rely on the one with the bells only. Monty

If the bells are the guts of the detector, then that's the point I'm making.

If a person is into fast cars, are they more interested in the engine or all the extra options that have nothing to do with performance? And if the car with the best engine just happens to be loaded, are you going to pass because you don't need a few of the options? Of course not! The people who say I picked "X" detector because I didn't need the bells and whistles "Y" detector had, is like saying I went with the Honda Accord because I don't need those fancy options I'll never use on the Farrari.

It's the exact same thing with detectors, all about the electronics! A Tesoro is not a Garrett, a Garrett is not a Minelab, a Silver Umax is not a Tejon, an Ace 250 isn't a GTI, and an X-terra ain't no Explorer, and so on REGARDLESS OF WHAT BELLS AND WHISTLES THEY HAVE. Finally I think I have written the post to finally get the point across because I read it over and over about not needing the bells and whistles and it seems some people just don't get it, or want to get it. Or quite simply they've never used a high end unit, or had it figured out... meaning I guess you could call them a true "beep and dig" detectorist because they are not picking up anything close to what some of the higher end electronics have to offer.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

How many of you concentrate on sounds more than read out

Whats a "read out"......

 

[Trezurehunter]

I use sound more than numbers, but I'm also a former Fisher CZ 5 user & also went by sound on that machine. Ron

 

[Sandman]

I learned to use sound when I started and find the screens on todays detectors can add to the fun of the hunt for some, but for me I know those deep older targets aren't going to show up on the screen accurately anyway. So it depends on how much fun or fines you want to come home with. Another reason to use premium headphones.

Course in the water I scoop everything that even thinks it makes a noise and Doctor Detroit said she digs almost a sound.

 

[Digger]

I think there is just as much skill involved in learning to read a display as there is in leaning to know the sounds. Without a doubt a display is quicker to learn than sounds. I think most of todays detectors get the sound and display from the same source anyway. That is to say if after running through the processing circuits a signal gets a solid digital ID of 79, then if that 79 makes it through the discrimination software(is set to be excepted) then you hear a positive sound(no tone ID) or a tone identified with the number 79(tone ID) and or a visual display of 79. For someone new to detecting that 79 is going to be much easier to call a dime than any other type of feedback.

The skill in reading a display is that although you may get a VDI that isn't solid that doesn't mean it is useless. I've found that even on very deep targets that jumps around a lot, you can find a pattern that will be pretty accurate. For example on my DFX a dime at 8" will jump from a VDI of 34 to 82, but most often I'll see the 79 the most. This is my indicator of a deep dime. I find the E-Trac CO ID is very accurate at extreme depths. The FE ID is pretty much worthless below 5-6".

Anyway, I've found the sound to be no more accurate than the visual display on all my detector, and in fact get more useful information from a display than the sound.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Sound first, then numbers. But I always dig according to sound & repeated sound no matter what numbers say.

 

[Keppy]

But i will say that i had more good finds with a single tone no screen detector that was my ...Garrett Freedom Two coin Commander....

 

[crazyman]

I suppose it depends on the type of sites you hunt. I don't use a meter on my Sovereign when relic or beach hunting. If it beeps I dig. When I want to be a bit more selective in my digging like in nice manicured Victorian house lawns or old parks where I want to limit my digging I put the meter on but still use the tones first and then the meter for a second reference to cherry pick for old coins.

 

[Keppy]

I suppose it depends on the type of sites you hunt. I don't use a meter on my Sovereign when relic or beach hunting. If it beeps I dig. When I want to be a bit more selective in my digging like in nice manicured Victorian house lawns or old parks where I want to limit my digging I put the meter on but still use the tones first and then the meter for a second reference to cherry pick for old coins.

Well to me now this is me i think the metal detectors would be far advanced if they did not put on them .......... different sounds ...................and meter screens are really a toy to make every one feel important............

 

[crazyman]

Keppy, speak english dammit!

 

[Keppy]

Keppy, speak english dammit!

crazyman... My God man you know i have been trying to learn english .... It's just so hard to learn.......

 

[Digger]

I've always found these sound vs display debates hilarious since the vast majority of detectors get their sound or display from the same circuits. That means that as far as accuracy goes it would be the same. A digital circuit generates a target ID of 79 you either hear a tone associated with that number, or a display indicator and a tone. To think someone can be more accurate hearing just a tone vs both a tone and a display indicator is wishful thinking. And to think a person can be more accurate trying to hear the difference between a pull tab(VDI of 20 to 23) and a nickle(VDI 18 to 21) is absurd.

 

[Keppy]

I've always found these sound vs display debates hilarious since the vast majority of detectors get their sound or display from the same circuits. That means that as far as accuracy goes it would be the same. A digital circuit generates a target ID of 79 you either hear a tone associated with that number, or a display indicator and a tone. To think someone can be more accurate hearing just a tone vs both a tone and a display indicator is wishful thinking. And to think a person can be more accurate trying to hear the difference between a pull tab(VDI of 20 to 23) and a nickle(VDI 18 to 21) is absurd.

You are right on there ... yes sir...right on...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I think the problem is some rely on the display and will only dig certain numbers, and just as the same target can give different tones depending on the circumstances, (depth, position, composition) it can and will do the same on a meter or display...........

To only dig low growls on an Excal means you missing a lot of middle tone gold...........